Department Policies on Pregnancy

Looking for information of your departments policy for pregnant officers.
Our agency will not allow my fellow officer to work light duty but expects her to work the road until she is due.
They stated that she can get bigger uniforms and that this is not Miami PD so the risk is lower! Please contact me with any information that can be used to support her future claim.

that is totally ridiculous..............no that is totally f**king ridiculous . my dept. know what liability is and the minute i told them i was with child i was without my partner and slapped on the desk . i'm finding it hard even formulating words to say . when she wins this suit , tell her she has a long lost sister in alabama....cause she's getting paid......................i hope she's not still on the streets.............

we recently did some research for our female officers to prove that things like firing your gun, wearing the duty belt are harmful to the pregnancy. I will try to find the research for you while at work tonight and send you a private message.

Sounds like that department has never been sued before. Ask her to go over her departments Policy and Procedures given to her at employment. Our policy is light duty which means desk bound, or booking in prisoners. Some have even excelled in other departments than patrol and stayed where they were assigned at light duty. Department size is a biggy too, but shouldn't dictate or jeopardize one's health. Good Luck

BIG NO NO!!! Your dept is asking to get sued! As soon as I discovered that I was pregnant I told my supervisors and they immediately took me off the streets. I had to have a cesarean birth and they would not let me go back on full duty until three months after. We are a 13 officer dept and had no problem covering until I was able to return to full duty. I dispatched, a little, and worked on investigations. I did not have contact with prisoners, for obvious reasons. Your dept is asking for a TON of trouble if they require the pregnant female officer to stay on patrol.

"It would be better for one to have a stone tied around their neck and thrown into the sea, than to cause a child to stumble."

When I was pregnant I was put in as the investigator. I had to be in uniform prior until around 5 months. I was still called out to translate on DUI's and anything else at 0300 at 8 months. My chief, who has since changed his way of thinking told me after I came back that he was pissed at me. When I asked him why, he said that I was lucky the city let him make a postion for me. I had to refresh his memory and tell him that the investigator position was already in place and that I pulled my 40 hours plus. I also informed him that the last day I worked I went to a Dr. appointment and was shipped to Denver due to the stress and was sent in for a C-section. He then had the balls to tell me that when he hired me I had told him I was done having children. I told him that the last time I asked for permission was when I left my parents residence and if I wanted to get knocked up again then It was my right. I think that was when he realized he had crossed the line and was looking to be sued if he continued. I also want to say that not just the females will run into such issues. THe male officer's that have their spouses going into labor are entitled to family medical leave. A lot of employers will also try to screw the fathers out of what is their right and that is to be with their spouse or significant other.

When I was pregnant I was put in as the investigator. I had to be in uniform prior until around 5 months. I was still called out to translate on DUI's and anything else at 0300 at 8 months. My chief, who has since changed his way of thinking told me after I came back that he was pissed at me. When I asked him why, he said that I was lucky the city let him make a postion for me. I had to refresh his memory and tell him that the investigator position was already in place and that I pulled my 40 hours plus. I also informed him that the last day I worked I went to a Dr. appointment and was shipped to Denver due to the stress and was sent in for a C-section. He then had the balls to tell me that when he hired me I had told him I was done having children. I told him that the last time I asked for permission was when I left my parents residence and if I wanted to get knocked up again then It was my right. I think that was when he realized he had crossed the line and was looking to be sued if he continued. I also want to say that not just the females will run into such issues. THe male officer's that have their spouses going into labor are entitled to family medical leave. A lot of employers will also try to screw the fathers out of what is their right and that is to be with their spouse or significant other.

I am so thankful for my Chief. He was very understanding. I had also told him 3-4 months prior that the hubby and I were trying to get pregnant. My Chief and Capt kept track of my OB appts and called to check after every appt. My dept was great with my pregnancy. I breastfed for the first 6 months and they were very supportive of my decision. If you do plan to breastfeed, make sure you put a sign on the door when you are "pumping". Can be very embarassing if you don't.

"It would be better for one to have a stone tied around their neck and thrown into the sea, than to cause a child to stumble."

you speak sarge........man just think if my dept. was like either of yours i would have laid up there with that 10 lb 2 oz baby boy of mine and had his college tuition pd for and medical school !!!! damn , damn , damn ...........oh and he was 23 inches long , no c-section sarge.........

you speak sarge........man just think if my dept. was like either of yours i would have laid up there with that 10 lb 2 oz baby boy of mine and had his college tuition pd for and medical school !!!! damn , damn , damn ...........oh and he was 23 inches long , no c-section sarge.........

DAMN!!! I feel for ya Val. Both of mine were C-section!

"It would be better for one to have a stone tied around their neck and thrown into the sea, than to cause a child to stumble."

he was the second 10 pounder the first son was 10 lb 6 oz and 23 inches had to stop drinking gatorade..........at least that's what the doc said as to why i gained 60 lbs..........okay sorry guys back on topic , as soon as i can get my rule book i'll send our policy.........

Oh that Chief or Sheriff needs to get his blank kicked, well you know. That Officer has a big time law suit if she wants. Pregnancy is covered under Family Medical Leave Act and I believe ADA, like SpaCity check with the DOJ websites. Also Check with your fair labor and standards officer, city or organization should have one and they can also provide further information. Please keeps us posted, cause I am annoyed.

My department was awesome with both of my pregnancies. I told them I was pregnant and was placed in a light duty investigations position. I was able to make arrests, do interviews etc.. I will say slapping the cuffs on when I was eight months got me in a lot of trouble from the brass and with my second child I wasn't allowed to do that anymore. Anyway, I didn't have a child until I was at the department for over 6 years and when I was first hired the Chief at that time asked me if I was planning on having children. I said not at the moment because I wasn't even married. He told me he was counting on me not having children!! Nice. Since he left, I can't rave enough about my dept. and the positive treatment I got. Plus I was able to decide when I wanted to come off the street which was when I couldn't clinch my duty belt around my waist. Sorry some of you ladies got shafted by the dept. That is so wrong.

Well first of all THANK YOU ALL........................ As a Union Rep. I requested the departments maternity leave policy after I posted the discussion and I was informed today that THE FAMILY LEAVE ACT is the policy! I laughed and walked out of the station. We currently have 2 officers who have pending lawsuits with them. I am one of them for the K-9 FLSA Compensation along with another officer for medical reasons now she will be the 3rd one. It is ashame that they think this way. The chief and administration will not put her on light duty since there is none but past practice we have had 2 Officers on light duty!!!!!! This Officer is a wreck and we all are sticking together to support her along with the FOP

THAT IS CRAZY IS YOUR BOSS LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSSE TO BE UNEMPLOYED , NOT ONLY THAT IS WRONG IT SHOWS THAT THERE IS NO RESPECT OR INTEGRITY . IN ACTIVE DUTY ARMY MY COMMANDER DISOBEYED AT DIRECT ORDER FROM THE TOC TO HAVE THE PREGNATE SOLDIERS ON LIGHT DUTY WORK IN THE OFFICE AND NOT TO HAVE THEM ANY WHERE NEAR THE MOTOR POOL . AS A MECHCANIC IN THE ARMY I WORK DOWN IN THE MOTOR POOL WHERE I FIX INDUSTRIAL QUATERMASTER CHEMICAL EQUIPMENT AND TANKER TRUCKES. THE COMMANDER FORCED US TO STAY DOWN AT THE MOTOR POOL TO WORK AND SLEEP INSIDE ONE OF THE GARAGES WHEN THE UNIT HAD TO DO A TWO WEEK OUT DOOR TRAINING .ALL SIX OF US HAD TO SLEEP ON COTS AND SLEEPING BAGS NEAR PALLETS OF LEAKING BATTERYS, EXHAUST SYSTEMS FROM A TRUCK , AND AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLIES ALL OVER THE PLACE ONE FEMALE EXPECTING TWINS MISSCARRIED , AND ONE OTHER FEMALE FELL OFF A LADDER PUTTING HER IN TO EARLY LABOR SHE WAS ONLY 7 MONS , AND I WAS HIGH RISK ONLY 6 MONS . BECAUSE OF HIS RANK THE COMMANDER GOT AWAY LIKE A SNAKE REGARDLESS OF OUR IG COMPLAINTS FROM NCO'S AND ENLISTED AND THE USE OF CHAIN OF COMMAND I GOT SICK OF EVERY THING AND STOPPED FIGHTING AND SO DID THE REST OF THE SOLDIERS. I LEARN NOW TO READ UP EVERY POLICYS AND SOP'S IN THE ARMY AND KEEP FIGHTING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT WHEN YOU ARE TOLD WRONG . MY ADVICE FOR YOU IS TO TAKE THE TIME AND DO YOUR RESEARCH KEEP FIGHT WHAT IS RIGHT AND DONT GIVE IN TO ANY THING. PREGNATE WOMEN INTHE WORK FORCE HAVE RIGHTS TOO.

THAT IS CRAZY IS YOUR BOSS LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSSE TO BE UNEMPLOYED , NOT ONLY THAT IS WRONG IT SHOWS THAT THERE IS NO RESPECT OR INTEGRITY . IN ACTIVE DUTY ARMY MY COMMANDER DISOBEYED AT DIRECT ORDER FROM THE TOC TO HAVE THE PREGNATE SOLDIERS ON LIGHT DUTY WORK IN THE OFFICE AND NOT TO HAVE THEM ANY WHERE NEAR THE MOTOR POOL . AS A MECHCANIC IN THE ARMY I WORK DOWN IN THE MOTOR POOL WHERE I FIX INDUSTRIAL QUATERMASTER CHEMICAL EQUIPMENT AND TANKER TRUCKES. THE COMMANDER FORCED US TO STAY DOWN AT THE MOTOR POOL TO WORK AND SLEEP INSIDE ONE OF THE GARAGES WHEN THE UNIT HAD TO DO A TWO WEEK OUT DOOR TRAINING .ALL SIX OF US HAD TO SLEEP ON COTS AND SLEEPING BAGS NEAR PALLETS OF LEAKING BATTERYS, EXHAUST SYSTEMS FROM A TRUCK , AND AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLIES ALL OVER THE PLACE ONE FEMALE EXPECTING TWINS MISSCARRIED , AND ONE OTHER FEMALE FELL OFF A LADDER PUTTING HER IN TO EARLY LABOR SHE WAS ONLY 7 MONS , AND I WAS HIGH RISK ONLY 6 MONS . BECAUSE OF HIS RANK THE COMMANDER GOT AWAY LIKE A SNAKE REGARDLESS OF OUR IG COMPLAINTS FROM NCO'S AND ENLISTED AND THE USE OF CHAIN OF COMMAND I GOT SICK OF EVERY THING AND STOPPED FIGHTING AND SO DID THE REST OF THE SOLDIERS. I LEARN NOW TO READ UP EVERY POLICYS AND SOP'S IN THE ARMY AND KEEP FIGHTING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT WHEN YOU ARE TOLD WRONG . MY ADVICE FOR YOU IS TO TAKE THE TIME AND DO YOUR RESEARCH KEEP FIGHT WHAT IS RIGHT AND DONT GIVE IN TO ANY THING. PREGNATE WOMEN INTHE WORK FORCE HAVE RIGHTS TOO.

With my squadron they made me work the road/ gates until i couldn't wear my gear belt anymore. Then I was put behind a desk until the time I had my boy. I had my six weeks off and then right back to work. The part that I got screwed on (not literally) was my PT test and deploying. Women do not have to take their PT test until 6 months after birth and the same with deploying. 2 1/2 months after giving birth I was doing a PT test and then a few weeks later went to a 3 week training course. when he was 5 months old i left for the desert. when i get back he will be 13 months. i've been gone a total of 8 months of his life-- and they say the Military Cares about our Families.

Sorry, I missed this one earlier. The person who stated that this falls under the Family Medical Leave Act./and or short term disability. pregnancy is categorized as a disability. (temporarily) Just go to your Doctor and have them give you a note with restrictions the department is required by law to comply and put you on light duy.

Looking for information of your departments policy for pregnant officers.
Our agency will not allow my fellow officer to work light duty but expects her to work the road until she is due.
They stated that she can get bigger uniforms and that this is not Miami PD so the risk is lower! Please contact me with any information that can be used to support her future claim.

OMG! I can't believe this! That's such bullshit! The pregnant officers at my dept have the option of working the street or taking the desk. We've had several up in dispatch working as DLR (direct line reporting) officers along side the officers that are on light duty for an injury. They usually wear business casual but since dispatch has no real face to face contact w/the community they've allowed stretchy yoga gauchos and other "comfy" maternity attire. I don't know how big your agency is or what other options it has for officers but one option is to have them do all the paperwork filings or the ever popular answering phones with dispatch :)